Drive for tentering chains



g- 1966 F. PROTTENGEEER 1, 9

DRIVE FOR TENTERING CHAINS Filed Dec. 2, 1963 2 sheetssheet 1 4e Q INVENTOR.

' FR/ rz PRO 7'7ENGE/ER ATTORNEY5 Aug. 1966 F. PROTTEINGEHER 3,264,704

DRIVE FOR TENTERING CHAINS Filed Dec. 2, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FRITZ PRO77'ENGE/EAZ Patented August'Q, 1966 1 Claim. (31. 26-57) This invention rel-ates to a drive for tentering chains and relates more particularly to a drive for chains used in textile driers for holding lengths of fabrics.

Tenter chains of textile driers are mounted so that they can be shifted relatively to each other in order to adjust them to fabrics of different widths and in order that they may carry out their stretching function. The chains are usually driven from a central driving motor by a driving shaft extend-ing through an apparatus the general construction of which is similar to those of a slide guide and slide drive of lathes. It is well known that a guide of this type requires an exceptionally high precision in its manufacture, with the result that the cost of the apparatus are greatly increased. This extensive and expensive precision is not particularly advantageous for textile driers for various reasons, including that of expansion caused by temperature variations. Furthermore, this apparatus often causes operational difficulties. Thus drives of this type for tentering chains are expensive not only in manufacture, but also in operation.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a single, sturdy and operationally safe drive, which is particularly suitable for chains of stretching devices for textile driers.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention it was found desirable to provide a drive for the chains of adjustable chain drives of stretching devices, wherein the driving motor, or the driving aggregate is immovably and fixedly mounted, while the drive is transmitted to chain wheels through Cardan shafts of variable lengths. The driving aggregate may consist of a motor and a special drive for each chain. However, it is also possible to arrange the two drives in a common casing. In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention which provides a great saving of space, the driving motor is a vertical motor and is mounted directly upon the drive casing.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example only, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and comprising fixed separate drives for each chain drive.

FIGURE 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of a different construction, wherein the drive is connected directly with the chain wheels.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of an apparatus wherein fixed drives are located in a common casing.

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

FIGURE 6 is a front view of an apparatus provided with a vertical driving motor.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises posts 10 and a cross bar 11 extending between the posts 10. As best shown in FIG. 2, chain drive carriers 12 are movably mounted upon the bar 11. In addition to the tenter chains, chain wheels 13 are mounted upon the carriers 12.

Chains, which are not shown in the drawings, hold a length of fabric 14 while it is being treated. The fabric 14 is maintained in its stretched condition by a corresponding adjustment of the chain drive carriers.

The chain wheels 13 are operated from a motor 15. In the example illustrated, each tenter chain is actuated by a separate drive 16. The drives 16 are interconnected by a connecting shaft 18 and are operatively connected with the motor 15 by a belt drive or the like. Cardan shafts 17 of variable length connect the drives 16 with the chain wheels 13.

In operation, the motor 15 actuates the tenter chains which carry the fabric 14 through a belt drive, shaft 18, drives 16, Cardan shafts 17 and chain wheels 13. The tenter chains may be conveniently adjusted to the length of the fabric by shifting the carriers 12 upon the cross bar 11.

FIGURE 3 shows -a construction having posts 10, cross bar 11, chain drive carriers 12 and chain wheels 13 which are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in the construction of FIG. 3, the separate drives 19 for each tenter chain are fixed upon the carriers 12. The

motor 15 drives the chain wheels 13 through a belt drive, a connecting shaft 20, Cardan shafts 17 operatively connected with the shaft 20 and drives 19 which are operatively connected with the Cardan shafts 17 and the chain wheels 13. The Cardan shafts 17' are of variable length, so as to facilitate the adjustment of the carriers 12 to different lengths of fabric.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate an apparatus which avoids the use of long connecting shafts 18 and 20 of devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In accordance with the construction of FIGS. 4 'and 5 the drives are combined within a single casing 21, so that the action of the motor 15 is transmitted through the drives located in the casing 21 and two separate Cardan shafts 17" to the chain wheels 13. In other respects the apparatus is substantially the same as those already described. FIG. 4 illustrates additionally the location of the drier 22 relatively to the tenter chains.

FIGURE 6 shows a construction wherein the drive is locatedin a common casing 24 and separate drives 23 are attached to the chain wheels 13. Cardan shafts 17 of variable length are located between the drives 23 and the drive in the casing 24. In this embodiment the driving motor is constructed as a vertical motor 25 which is directly connected by flanges to the drive casing 24. This construction results in a great saving of space.

The present invention, particularly in its use of Cardan shafts of variable length, provides a secure transmission of the driving power to the chain wheels and, therefore, to the tenter chains. Due to the provision of Cardan shafts with double joints the chain carriers can be conveniently moved and shifted upon the cross bar, so that uncontrolled deviations which may be produced, for example, by heat expansion, .can not have detrimental effects. The result is that it is not necessary any more to demand high precision from cross bars and chain carriers; this results in a very great reduction of costs of manufacture and in a substantially complete elimination of operational breakages.

It is apparent that the examples shown above have been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that they are subject to many variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

A drive for tentering chains, comprising in combination, posts, a cross bar carried by said posts, two chain means operatively interconnecting said drives, means op- 3 H drive carriers movably mounted upon said cross bar, a 2,426,980 9/1947 Ball L 641"X. separate chain Wheel mounted upon each of said carriers, 3 073 135 1 19 3 Wood 54 d23 a fixed motor, a separate drive for each chain whee-1, 3 150 431 9/1964 Fazis 26*57 r eratively conecting said motor with the last-mentioned means, and a separate Cardan shaft of variable length:

FOREIGN PATENTS operatively connecting each drive with a separate chain 313 779 6/1929 Great Britain wheel.

References Cited by the Examiner ROBERT R. MAcKEn-Pfimw Examiner."

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 D L ,"E a 664,478 12/1900 Hopewell. ONA PARKER 

